Wind-wheel



(No Model.)

L. S. PFOUTS.

WIND WHEEL.

No. 402,475. Patented Apr. 30, 1889.

WITNESSES.-

ATTOR/VEL Nz-j PErERs. Pmm-umo m. Walmngtcn D. a

' fUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LEROY S. PFOUTS, OF WILMOT, OHIO.

WIND-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,475, dated. April 30, 1889.

Application filedDecember 10, 1887. Serial No. 257,540. (No model.)

To wllwhom'it may concern: I

Be it known that I, LEROY S. PFOUTS, a citizen of the United States, and a'resident of Wi'lmot, county of Stark, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in -Wind-Wheels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of. this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in wind-wheels; and it consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and set forth in the;claims, the object of which'is to provide a strong, simple, and durable'wind-Wheel, for pumpingwater and other purposes, that may be manufactured and'niaintained at a greatly-reduced cost over those now in use.

Figurel is a view in perspective from right to rear of awind-wheel, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, and Fig.3 a view of a supporting anti-friction carnage. l

Similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings. Y

A represents the :vertical timbers of the tower; B, a platform to which the timbers A are secured. On the upper end of said posts or timbers there is mounted a cast metal head, 0, having a central aperture, a, and downwardly-projected legsb, to which the upper end of the timbers A are secured. A metal pipe-spindle, D, is provided, having its lower end loosely secured in a central aperture, (1, in platform B, in which it may rotate, the

upper end passed through the head 0, a portion, 01', extending above said head and secured in the platform E, forming a long vertical spindle, by which the revolving portion of the tower is secured to the stationary or bottom portion, said platform having a central aperture, e, and a downwardly-projected circular fiange,f, and a doWnwardly-proj ected hub, g, forming a hood encircling the outer edge of the head 0, and a central support for the platform E.

Between the head G and platform E there is interposed a series of anti-friction rollers, h, loosely mounted on pins j, radiating from a circular plate, F, the diameter of said plate and rollers to be a little less than the diameerably made of angle-bars of steel secured to angle projections 70, formed on or projecting from the periphery of the rotary platform E. To the upper end of said frame is secured journal-boxes H, in which the wheel-shaft J is supported and rotated.

The Wheel-hub K is centrally secured to the shaft J, and on each end of said shaft a crankplate, L, the journals or resting in the boxes H. VVrist-pins n are secured in and project from the plates L, to which the upper ends of connecting-rods M are pivotally secured, .the

lower ends of said rods pivotally secured to a cross-head, N, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and to said cross-head the pump-rod O is secured, said rod passing down through the pipe D to the pump below.

- The wind-wheel comprises the hub K, the rim P, and sails Q. The sails Q are secured in the hub K and radiate therefrom at such intervals as may be desired, and at their outer ends are connected with the rim P, the said sails rigidly secured to the hub and the rim, and at such an angle With the vertical .plane of the wheel as may be desired.

To hold the wheel to the wind, to regulate the speed of the Wheel, or to stop it a vane, R, is provided, which is pivotally supported by the rods S and T, the rods S having a pivotal connection with the rotary platform E a distance to one side of a line drawn diametrically through the central portion of the platform, and the cord T correspondingly to one side of the wheel-shaft J. From the lower end of the rod S there is a laterally-projected arm, 0, to which is pivoted a link, 1), which is also pivotally secured to a weighted lever, U, as shown, said lever pivotally secured to a standard supported by the platform E, or on a cross-bar, q, secured to the frame G. The

weight V is adjustable on the long 'end of the lever U, so that the wheel P may be held in the wind according to the work to be performed and the velocity of the wind. A chain, 1, secured to the arm 0, is passed down the pipe D, by which an attendant may regulate the movement of the wheel.

In the drawings the weight is shown at its lowest point holding the wheel P to the wind and the vane to the lee. The pivotal connection of the vane to the wheel-frame and platform, being at one side of a line drawn vertically through the center of the wheel, forms a pivot about which the wheel and the vane move when folding. The pressure of wind on the long side, as at Z, Will raise the Weight V and cause the wheel to fold against the vane, at which point the wind will have no action on the sails, and so turning on this vertical pivot will lower the weight V, which will automatically bring the wheel again to the wind and into action as the velocity of the wind decreases and the pressure is lowered to a point at which the wheel is adjusted for operation. In this case all of the complicated devices usually resorted to for the purpose of regulating or stopping a wind-wheel are dispensed with, thus greatly reducing the liability to damage by storm, as well as the usual wear of such appliances.

Having described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the wind-wheel centrally supported on the turn-table, of a vane hinged to said turn-table by the diagonal and horizontal rods S and T, respectively, said rods connected with the said turn-table at one side of the axis of the wheel-shaft, the diagonal rod connected to the turn-table at the base and the horizontal rod at a point above the base, the diagonal rod being provided with a bend terminating in a laterallyprojecting arm, thereby providing a firm hearing for said brace, the shaft q, pivoted to the wind-wheel support, the cranked lever U, fixed to said shaft, a link, p, connected at one end to the crank-arm of the lever U and connected at its opposite end to the laterally-projecting arm of the rod S, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a wind-wheel and its supporting-frame G, of a turn-table to which the said supporting-frame is secured, the said turn-table consisting of thetop central apertured plate provided with annular flanges g and f, the latter flange having a greater diameter than the former flange, an annular supporting-head, 0, provided with a central aperture coincident with the aperture of the top plate, the short annular flange of said top plate turning upon the upper face of said head, while the longer annular flange engages the periphery of said head, thereby forming a closed chamber, the circular plate inclosed within said chamber and provided with a central aperture through which the short annular flange projects, said plate further provided With radial spindles upon which rollers are journaled, and a tube-spindle, D, projecting through the aperture of the turntable journaled at its lower end in stationary bearings and secured at its upper end to the said turn-table, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of November, A. D. 1887.

LEROY S. PFOUTS.

Witnesses: 1 CHAS. R. MILLER,

W. K. MILLER. 

